Canada’s leading union applauds federal government action on repealing anti-worker laws

Toronto – October 20, 2016 – UFCW Canada commends the federal government for taking action to repeal anti-worker legislation enacted by the Harper Conservatives with the passage of Bill C-4, an Act to Amend the Canada Labour Code and other Acts, in the House of Commons yesterday.

“This is a tremendous victory for workers and their families, and it would not have been possible without the hard work of UFCW Canada members, as well as our friends and allies in the labour movement,” says UFCW Canada National President Paul Meinema.

Bill C-4 repeals the anti-union Bills C-377 and C-525, which placed onerous, costly, and unfair financial regulations on unions and their members, and restricted the labour rights of federally-regulated workers, respectively. Prior to introducing Bill C-4, the federal Liberals announced that they would not enforce Bills C-377 and C-525 shortly after the party formed government in October 2015. Bill C-4 will now go to the Senate for final approval.

The passage of Bill C-4 follows years of campaigning against Bills C-377 and C-525 by UFCW Canada and other labour unions. The anti-worker bills were also vigorously opposed by the federal New Democratic Party (NDP), a number of constitutional lawyers, academics, and Liberal and Conservative Senators, and a wide range of companies that work with labour organizations across Canada. 

“We thank the federal government for taking action to repeal the archaic and anti-worker Bills C-377 and C-525, and we will now be working to ensure that Bill C-4 passes in the Senate,” says National President Meinema.